Deutsche Boerse Expanding Global Network

Deutsche Boerse Group said it will be “gradually expanding” its global network this year.

The exchange and clearing service operator said it will connect the financial centers of Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris and Zurich with multiple 10 billion bit a second links.

The moves are part of a planned introduction of a new trading system in December at its Eurex derivatives marketplace.

Links to other locations in Europe, the United Sttes and Asia will be upgraded to 1 billion bits a second.

The expansion will start this month and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The upgrade began at its U.S. options market, the International Securities Exchange.

“We are now taking the next logical step in Europe,” said Michael Kuhn, Deutsche Boerse’s chief information officer, who is leaving. “Our global customers will benefit from the expansion of our high-speed network. At the same time we are laying the foundations for our company’s further growth.”

The upgraded network will link the world’s most important financial centers with Deutsche Boerse Group’s trading systems and the co-location data center in Frankfurt. Deutsche Boerse’s approximately 140 co-location customers “will benefit from this offering in particular,’’ the company said.